Increased transforming growth factor-beta1 plasma concentration is associated with high plasma 3,3',5'-tri-iodothyronine in elderly patients with nonthyroidal illnesses.
OBJECTIVE
To study transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) plasma concentrations in elderly patients with nonthyroidal illnesses (NTI).


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
We measured plasma concentrations of tri-iodothyronine (T3), reverse T3 (rT3), thyroxine (T4), free T3 (fT3) and free T4 (fT4) estimates, TSH, and TGF-beta1 in 48 elderly NTI patients consecutively admitted in our Division of Internal Medicine and Metabolic Diseases, and in 11 healthy age- and sex-matched controls.


RESULTS
The data on thyroid hormones enabled us to identify three groups: Group A, subjects (8 patients) with T3 and fT3 levels comparable to those in controls: Group B, subjects (30 patients) with T3 and fT3 levels lower than controls but rT3 levels comparable to those of controls; Group C, subjects (10 patients) with T3 and fT3 levels lower than those of controls and higher rT3 levels. The patients of Group C showed higher plasma levels of TGF-beta1 compared with controls. Moreover, we found a positive correlation between TGF-beta1 and rT3 (rs = 0.38, P < 0.01) in the whole group of NTI patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data seem to confirm the hypothesis that TGF-beta1 could play a role in the pathogenesis of some modifications of thyroid function observed in patients with nonthyroidal illnesses.
Corica
F
F
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Policlinico Universitario, Italy.
Allegra
A
A
Corsonello
A
A
Buemi
M
M
Rubino
F
F
Bonanzinga
S
S
Ruello
A
A
Ceruso
D
D
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012016:Reference Values; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood*; D014285:Triiodothyronine, Reverse / Q000097:blood
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D014285:Triiodothyronine, Reverse